Tuesday: 2 Iraqis Killed

Only two Iraqis were killed in an unusually light day
of violence. Meanwhile, the Iraq government has freed the leader of Asa’ib
al-Haq or the League of the Righteous.

Qais al-Khazali, the leader of Asa’ib al-Haq, was ostensibly
released
as part of a loose deal that allowed
British hostage Peter Moore to return to freedom. Khazali was transferred from
U.S. custody to the Iraqis last month. Although officials are denying the
transfer of Khazali to Iraqi authorities was critical to Moore’s release,
Khazali’s brother Liath was released at about the same time the bodies of three
of Moore’s bodyguards were returned. The whereabouts of a fourth bodyguard are
unknown. Officials are expecting his body will be handed over soon.

In Kirkuk, police arrested five suspects.
Separately, a police spokesman released
the official number of casualties for Kirkuk in 2009. At least 226 people were
killed and 675 were wounded. Another 35 suspects were also killed and 31 bodies
were discovered.